Destruction Warlock DPS Spell Summary in Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.0.1

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 8.0.1 Changes for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Destruction Warlock Strengths
  • 4. Destruction Warlock Weaknesses
  • 5. Destruction Warlock's Viability in the Current Patch
  • 6. Contents
  • 7. Changelog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. Foreword
  • 2. The Basics of a Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Talent Choice for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. Stat Priority for Destruction Warlock
  • 5. Azerite Quick Reference for Destruction Warlock
    • 5.1. Single Target
    • 5.2. Cleave
  • 6. Single Target Rotation for Destruction Warlock
  • 7. Multiple Target Rotation for Destruction Warlock
  • 8. Changelog
• ×Spell Summary
  • 1. Destruction Warlock Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resources for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Basic Abilities for Destruction Warlock
    • 3.1. Soul Shard Generating Abilities
    • 3.2. Soul Shard Consuming Abilities
  • 4. Cooldowns for Destruction Warlock
    • 4.1. Damage Cooldowns for Destruction Warlock
    • 4.2. Defensive Cooldowns and Tools for Destruction Warlock
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 2.1. Single Target
    • 2.2. Two Targets
    • 2.3. Four Targets (Mythic+)
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Destruction Warlock
  • 10. PvP Talents (War Mode)
    • 10.1. Destruction Warlock War Mode Talents
      • 10.1.1. General PvP Talents
      • 10.1.2. Destruction Warlock PvP Talents
  • 11. Changelog
• +Azerite Traits and Armor
  • 1. General Azerite Gear Recommendation
  • 2. Choosing Azerite Gear as an Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Choosing Azerite Traits as an Destruction Warlock
    • 3.1. Outer Ring
    • 3.2. Middle Ring
    • 3.3. Inner Ring
  • 4. Azerite Simulation Rankings for Destruction Warlock
    • 4.1. Single Target
      • 4.1.1. Outer Ring
      • 4.1.2. Middle Ring
    • 4.2. Cleave/AoE
      • 4.2.1. Outer Ring
      • 4.2.2. Middle Ring
  • 5. Azerite Traits Rotation Changes and Details for Destruction Warlock
  • 6. Azerite Traits
    • 6.1. Generic Outer Ring Traits
    • 6.2. Destruction Warlock Specific Outer Ring Traits
  • 7. Find Azerite Armor By Trait/Power
  • 8. Changelog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Ability Priority List for Destruction Warlock
    • 1.1. Single Target Priority for Destruction Warlock
    • 1.2. Cooldown Usage for Destruction Warlock
    • 1.3. Opening Sequence for Destruction Warlock
    • 1.4. Multiple Target Priority for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Important Notes for Destruction Warlock
    • 2.1. Soul Shard Generation and Consumption
    • 2.2. Chaos Bolt
    • 2.3. Havoc Usage
    • 2.4. Movement Management
      • 2.4.1. Quiet Movement
  • 3. Changelog
• +Mythic+ Tips
  • 1. Mythic+ Introduction for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Affix List
    • 2.1. Tier One Affixes
    • 2.2. Tier Two Affixes
    • 2.3. Tier Three Affixes
    • 2.4. Seasonal Affix
  • 3. Mythic+ Talents for Destruction Warlock
    • 3.1. Talent Explanations
      • 3.1.1. Tier 1/Level 15
      • 3.1.2. Tier 2/Level 30
      • 3.1.3. Tier 3/Level 45
      • 3.1.4. Tier 4/Level 60
      • 3.1.5. Tier 5/Level 75
      • 3.1.6. Tier 6/Level 90
      • 3.1.7. Tier 7/Level 100
  • 4. Stat Priority for Destruction Warlock
  • 5. Pet Choice for Destruction Warlock
  • 6. Changelog
• +Common and Worst Mistakes
  • 1. Not Utilizing Grimoire of Supremacy
  • 2. Using Rain of Fire Too Liberally
  • 3. Dark Soul Usage
  • 4. Refreshing Immolate for Internal Combustion
  • 5. Havoc Preparation
  • 6. Cataclysm Usage
  • 7. Changelog
• +Frequently Asked Questions
  • 1. Frequently Asked Questions for Destruction Warlock
    • 1.1. Should I Aim for 100% Eradication Uptime?
    • 1.2. What Pets/Demons Should I Use?
    • 1.3. How Does Havoc Work?
    • 1.4. When Should I Use Dark Soul?
    • 1.5. How Does Channel Demonfire Work?
    • 1.6. What Piece is Better, X or Y?
    • 1.7. How Much of X Stat Should I Have?
  • 2. Changelog
• +Boss by Boss Strategies
  • 1. Introduction for Destruction Warlock Boss Advice in Uldir
    • 1.1. Talent Cheatsheet for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Taloc
  • 3. M.O.T.H.E.R.
  • 4. Fetid Devourer
  • 5. Zek'voz, Herald of N'Zoth
  • 6. Vectis
  • 7. Zul, Reborn
  • 8. Mythrax the Unraveler
  • 9. G'huun
  • 10. Changelog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. The Basics of Stats for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Statistics Explanations for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Changelog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Enchants for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Consumables for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. Changelog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Addons for Destruction Warlock
    • 1.1. ElvUI
    • 1.2. Weak Auras
    • 1.3. Boss Mods
      • 1.3.1. BigWigs Bossmods
      • 1.3.2. Deadly Boss Mods
    • 1.4. Name Plates
      • 1.4.1. KUI Nameplates
      • 1.4.2. TidyPlates
    • 1.5. Damage Meters
      • 1.5.1. Skada
      • 1.5.2. Details
    • 1.6. Extra AddOns
      • 1.6.1. Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 1.6.2. DeathNote
      • 1.6.3. Doom CooldownPulse
      • 1.6.4. Angry Assignments
  • 2. Macros for Destruction Warlock
    • 2.1. Havoc
    • 2.2. Cursor Rain of Fire
    • 2.3. Pet Macros
      • 2.3.1. Soulstone Mouseover
      • 2.3.2. Demonic Circle
  • 3. Changelog
• +Gear and Best in Slot
  • 1. How To Effectively Compare Upgrades as an Destruction Warlock
  • 2. Best in Slot Items for Destruction Warlock
  • 3. Azerite Gear for Destruction Warlock
  • 4. Trinkets for Destruction Warlock
    • 4.1. Trinket Simulations for Destruction Warlock
      • 4.1.1. Single Target
      • 4.1.2. Cleave
  • 5. Changelog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Disclaimer Page
  • 2. Destruction Warlock Racial Bonus Simulation
  • 3. Changelog

General Information

On this page, we list the spells that you will often use as a Destruction Warlock.

The other pages of our Destruction Warlock guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Author

This guide has been written by Furty, who has an illustrious history in the World of Warcraft raiding scene and race for World First. He has been a member of guilds such as Serenity, Midwinter, and many more, and is currently raiding in Tabula Rasa. He plays most classes at the highest level. You can follow him on Twitter and watch him play on Twitch.

1. Destruction Warlock Spell Summary

If you are new to the Destruction Specialization, this is a great place to start reading and begin breaking down the key spells that hold together this specialization. On this page we will discuss what abilities your specialization uses, how they influence gameplay and resource generation, and the ways they interact with each other and your cooldowns. If you have some experience with Destruction already, it is recommended you skip over this section and move on to the rest of the guide.

2. Main Resources for Destruction Warlock

Soul Shards are the main resource of Destruction Warlocks. Each Soul shard is made up of 10 Soul Shard Fragments. Soul Shards and Fragments are generated by your filler spells and your DoT effect, and they can be spent on an extremely powerful nuke or an AoE damage over time effect. You can have a maximum of 5 Soul Shards (50 Soul Shard Fragments).

Mana is a secondary resource for Destruction Warlocks. Your main spells do not cost very much Mana to cast, and will never threaten your Mana pool. Utility spells, such as Demonic Gateway, and Crowd Control abilities, such as Fear, cost relatively more Mana than ever before, so be wary about using them too liberally.

3. Basic Abilities for Destruction Warlock

3.1. Soul Shard Generating Abilities

Immolate is a damage over time spell that deals very high damage. It generates a Soul Shard Fragment when it ticks and additional Fragment on critical strikes. This should be kept applied at all times to targets who will live for 5 seconds or more.

Conflagrate is an instant cast spell with 2 charges. It generates 5 Soul Shard Fragments on cast, and the cooldown of the charges is reduced by Haste rating. It also reduces the cast time of Incinerate and Chaos Bolt by 30% for 10 seconds for each charge used. This should be cast on cooldown for maximum Soul Shard generation.

Incinerate is your main filler. This should be cast when the previous 3 spells are unavailable or already active on your target. Incinerate generates 1 Soul Shard Fragment on hits and 2 Soul Shard Fragments on criticals.

3.2. Soul Shard Consuming Abilities

Chaos Bolt consumes 2 Soul Shards and nukes the target for heavy damage. This damage is always a Critical Hit, and Chaos Bolt does increased damage (1% damage per 1% crit) based on your Critical Strike rating. This should be cast when you have Soul Shards available and, ideally, an active damage cooldown or proc.

Rain of Fire consumes 3 Soul Shards and deals Fire damage in an area, over a period of 8 seconds (reduced by Haste).

4. Cooldowns for Destruction Warlock

4.1. Damage Cooldowns for Destruction Warlock

Summon Infernal is our primary damage cooldown. The Infernal is a targeted ability that deals Fire damage and stuns within an AoE. Upon landing, the Infernal generates 1 Soul Shard Fragment every 0.5 seconds for the player. It deals damage every 2 seconds to all nearby targets, scaling with Haste. Infernal lasts 30 seconds and has a 3 minute cooldown period.

Havoc is a 10-second debuff that can be applied once every 30 seconds. During the duration of Havoc, all your single target spells cast will also be copied to the Havoc target. Requires at least 2 targets to work.

4.2. Defensive Cooldowns and Tools for Destruction Warlock

Unending Resolve reduces damage taken by 40% for 8 seconds. Additionally, you are also immune to interrupt and silence effects for the duration. Unending Resolve has a baseline cooldown of 3 minutes.

Soul Leech grants all single target damage done an absorption shield for 8% of damage dealt, up to a maximum of 10% of maximum player health.

Demonic Gateway creates two points which players can travel between by interacting with. Players may only use the gateway once every 90 seconds.